Worm rod

Claim 1

An electrically operated worm rod intended to effect the surfacing of worms and insects out of the ground, comprising a cylindrical housing member formed of electrical insulating material and having a top surface, a bottom surface, and depending cylindrical side wall surfaces, a cylindrical bore formed concentric with the housing member and extending partially axially therethrough and opening out of the top surface thereof, an aperture disposed concentrically in the housing member bottom surface and extending axially completely therethrough interconnecting the bottom surface to the bore, the circumferal surface of the top portions of the side wall adjacent the top surface having a spiral screw type thread formed integrally therein and extending completely therearound, a handle member formed of electrical insulating material and including a hollow cylindrical portioN open at the bottom end thereof and closed at the top end thereof by an enlarged disc shaped head portion of a diameter greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion and adapted to be readily grasped in the palm of an individual''s hand in a manner to apply pressure thereagainst, a plurality of window like openings spaced about the circumference of the side walls of the cylindrical member and extending completely therethrough for visibility into the interior of the cylindrical member, the open end of the cylindrical member having formed interiorly thereof a spiral screw thread of a size and pitch complementary to the size and pitch of the threads on the housing member and adapted to be threadedly engaged thereon to retain the cylindrical member in axial alignment with the housing member and projecting outwardly of the top surface of the housing member with the window like openings projecting upwardly beyond the top surface of the housing member, a cylindrical electrical conducting member of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical bore and of a depth substantially equal to the depth of the cylindrical bore and adapted to be snugly received therein, the conducting member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and depending cylindrical side wall surfaces, the conducting member bottom surface having an internally threaded cylindrical bore disposed inwardly thereof of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture extending through the housing bottom surface and in axial alignment therewith, an electric lamp having a threaded screw type base, an internally threaded cylindrical socket formed inwardly of the top surface of the conducting member and adapted to threadedly receive the base of the electric lamp therein, a source of electrical energy, means adapted to interconnect the conducting member to the source of electrical energy, an elongated electrical conducting rod formed of an electrical conducting material and having a top end portion having threads thereon adapted to be threadedly received in a retaining manner in the bore opening out of the bottom surface of the conducting member, the rod projecting concentric with the conducting member and housing member outwardly of the housing member bottom surface and terminating in a hemi-spherical point, and a hollow elongated cylindrical member having corrugated accordion like side wall surfaces with the top end portion secured to the housing member and the bottom end portion extending freely therefrom with the side walls completely surrounding the electrical rod and terminating substantially adjacent the point of the rod in a manner to provide an electrical insulating barrier about the rod which in the inoperative position of the rod extends completely around the rod to prevent inadvertent contact therewith by an individual or the like, and when the rod is inserted into the ground the insulating cylinder collapses onto itself in an accordion like manner adjacent the bottom portions of the housing member to permit the rod to penetrate the ground while still protecting the portion of the rod immediately above the ground from inadvertent contact by the body of an individual or the like.